French students are protesting against the pension reform bill, but 5 of the 12 oil refineries have reopened, and trash collectors are returning to work after a two week strike. The government also said that gas stations are expected to be operating as normal very soon. The pension bill was approved by the Senate on Tuesday, and is expected to be approved by the National Assembly on Wednesday, a move that will raise the retirement age from 60 to 62. The Prime Minister said that the protests should stop, that they "no longer [had] any meaning." Union leaders say that they will continue to try to change some part of the bill. More protests are planned fro Thursday and November 6.
See "French students march as pension protesters end strikes", BBC News Online, October 25, 2010